After Days of Detention and Controversy, South Korean Workers Return Home

Over 300 South Korean workers detained in a U.S. immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant in Georgia returned home on Friday, landing at Incheon International Airport on a Korean Air Boeing 747-8i. The workers, part of 475 individuals detained on September 4, were held at an immigration detention centre in Folkston, Georgia, before being bussed to Atlanta for their flight. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry requested the media to blur the workers’ faces to protect their privacy, as some expressed concerns about public exposure.

The raid, targeting a battery factory under construction near Savannah, sparked outrage in South Korea after U.S. authorities released footage showing workers shackled at their hands, ankles, and waists. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called for U.S. visa system reforms, warning that such incidents could deter future Korean investments. The workers, including 316 South Koreans, 10 Chinese, three Japanese, and one Indonesian, were released following diplomatic negotiations. One South Korean with U.S. relatives chose to stay.

The operation was part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement agenda. U.S. officials claimed some workers had overstayed visas or used visa waivers prohibiting employment, though South Korean officials noted that such practices had been historically tolerated to meet urgent labour needs. The raid strained U.S.-South Korea relations, coming weeks after a $350 billion investment pledge by South Korea to secure a U.S. trade deal.

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South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said President Trump paused the workers’ departure to consider allowing them to remain and train U.S. workers. Ultimately, most chose to return. The incident highlights ongoing tensions over U.S. visa policies, with South Korean firms urging reforms to support skilled workers at major industrial projects, including battery plants and a Texas semiconductor facility.

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